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Texas Tech football: 5 greats we wish we could add to 2019 offense

By Matthew Conner

26 Oct 1996: Running back Byron Hanspard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders moves the ball during a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Lyons Field in College Station, Texas. Texas Tech won the game, 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport
26 Oct 1996: Running back Byron Hanspard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders moves the ball during a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Lyons Field in College Station, Texas. Texas Tech won the game, 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport /
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(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Though the Texas Tech football team’s offense is expected to be potent again in 2019, adding these five all-time Red Raider greats would make that side of the ball even stronger this fall.

Although the Texas Tech football team will be under new leadership this fall, everyone believes that the offense will not miss a beat.  That’s because offensive coordinator David Yost is one of the most highly-respected offensive minds in the game.

He has coached a stable of top NCAA quarterbacks including Brad Smith, Chase Daniel, and Blaine Gabbert at Missouri, all of whom went to the NFL, Justin Hebert at Oregon (expected to be a first-round pick in 2020), and Jordan Love at Utah State, one of the best QBs in the nation in 2019.  That’s why many fans are excited to see what he can do when working with sophomore Alan Bowman.

Last year, Yost’s offense at Utah St. averaged 47.5 points per game, second-most in the country.  That came thanks to a tremendously balanced offense that produced 294.2 yards per game through the air and added 203.2 more yards on the ground.

Now he takes over a Red Raider offense returning four of five starters on the offensive line and talented wide receivers T.J. Vasher, Seth Collins, and Kesean Carter.  However, there were some huge departures on that side of the ball this offseason.

Tech’s top two receivers from 2018, Antoine Wesley and Ja’Deion High, are gone with Wesley foregoing his senior season and High having exhausted his eligibility after six years in the program.  That duo combined for 2,219 yards and 13 touchdowns last fall.

Also gone are running backs Da’Leon Ward, Demarcus Felton, and Tre King.  That trio gave Tech 796 yards and ten touchdowns.

Another key loss is center Paul Stawarz.  The former JUCO signee was a three-year starter and one of the most dependable centers the program has had in recent years.

Maybe it is too much to expect the Red Raider offense to make the transition from Kliff Kingsbury’s offense to Yosts’ without missing a beat.  Though both schemes operate out of the spread, Yost’s will be more of a balanced attack.  Last year, he ran the ball 15 more times than he threw it and gave his running backs 100 more carries than Kingsbury gave his.

Still, its a bit surprising to see that Tech has not produced a first-team All-Big 12 offensive player since DeAndre Washington in 2015.  Not even Pat Mahomes earned that honor as he was named to the second-team in 2016.

Some players could put an end to that streak this year though.  For instance, right guard Jack Anderson was named a preseason All-Big 12 offensive team member earlier this month.   And Vasher has the talent to be one of the top receivers in the conference.

What’s more, JUCO tight end signee Travis Koontz will play a huge role for the offense and is a darkhorse all-conference candidate given that he was the No. 3 JUCO tight end recruit in the nation.  But there are still some areas where the 2019 offense could use a talent upgrade.  So let’s take a look at five Texas Tech football alums that would be perfect additions to this year’s offense.

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